10/28/11

It's Been a Long Time...











Hi y'all!


Let's not get into the mushy details as to why I haven't posted in awhile, ok?


Do we have a deal?
Are you sure?
Really?


Ok then.


Now that that's been taken care of, let me just say...wow! It's been a long time. Seven months to be exact. But who's counting?


I won't get into everything that's happened in that time. A deal is a deal, man.

Gosh! Who's idea was that anyways?


I will tell you this, though: If there's one thing, one experience, that stands out above all else, it would be this:




Which all started with this:












Then transitioned into this:









And included a little bit of this:















And a lot of this:






I once said that you know you've had a good summer when you realize you've taken 200 pictures over the course of 3 months.


During our trip to the Grand Canyon, I took 253 pictures...over the course of 3 days.


As the saying goes, "A picture is worth a thousand words."
So...let's see...253 X 1000 = 253,000.


Yep...that's about as many times as I've expressed my desire/need/desperation to go back.



Just ask my mom and dad...I'm sure they'll vouch for me.



I have a feeling that they've already bought me another plane ticket...out of a certain desire/need/desperation of their own.






Haha. :-)

Until next time,

~April~

"Dream it, plan it, do it." ~National Geographic Traveler~

4/9/11

Country Comfort

Since as far back as I can remember, I've been receiving anonymous calls. It happens daily. Sometimes twice a day. Sometimes three. It's a constant conundrum in my life. Weird, right? But, you want to know something? I kinda like it. Ok...for those of you freaking out right now, fearful of what kind of stalker has skillfully, stealthily secured my cell phone number, have no fear. I am here! I've already tracked the number down. The caller and I have discussed the matter for quite some time now, and we continue to come to the same solution. The calls will continue to come...only if I encourage them. In the meantime, I plan to learn about the caller's background by conducting research in some of the following fine pieces of literature: Again, only if I encourage it. I will dream about what our future will be like together. I will even listen to songs about the caller and sing along with them, piquing the curiosity of other drivers, as they blare from my car radio. I will even, dare I say it, look at pictures of this anonymous caller...even taking a few of the pictures myself. Ok, ok, I relent...the pressure to reveal the truth is too intense. But...but I'm afraid... You can't handle the truth! (Name that movie!) *Sorry...blogger moment.* Wait. What was I getting at? Oh...right! The anonymous caller. It's the country. The country is my anonymous caller. The country...it calls me...and it is... anonymous. WHAT??!! I know...I'm good. You thought it was a person, right? And here I was, thinking you knew me better than that. Just kidding! I know that you know that I know that you would never not know about my love for the country. The way it's whispering wind sounds in my ear. The way it's scenery is set in my head like a computer's screen saver...it's my brain's default setting. The way the trees, the grass, and the horses feel beneath my bare hands. The way where all it takes is one breath, and you yourself are taken away. I'm ready to be handed the marriage papers. Let me know when and where I need to sign. I'll be waiting. And researching. And dreaming. And singing. And photographing. And blogging. And, most importantly, praying. All about the country. And the future we have together.

All my love, ~April~

2/9/11

Life, Love, and Window Seats

This is my new plane. What do you think? Is it too big...too flashy...too "airline-y" perhaps?

Yeah, I thought as much. I need something more personalized, more attuned to my sense of style - something more inexpensive and idealistic maybe. Like a ticket for a flight on a plane. Yeah!
And while we're on the topic, let's make that a window seat. Window seats are like the hot tubs of the airline world. When sitting in one, you can't help but smile and be happy.


In fact, there's a lot of things in life that are like that.

Things like family and friends, good music, movies, and home and garden magazines...scenic country roads, wide open skies, and horses picturesquely standing in their pastures...long walks to nowhere with the wind blowing in your hair...the smell of rain and the sight of thunderclouds on the horizon, the scent of honeydew and black cherry scented candles...hot showers and sleeping in on Sundays.

I could go on, but I'll stop there. My heart can't take it!


Over the past couple of months, many things have happened. Out of these, the two things that stick out the most are: I've started classes and I've celebrated my 20th birthday. Yay!

Oh, and I've seen snow. So, that's three.

Oh, and I've seen the beginning beauty of Spring. So, that's four.

Oh, and by the end of this year, I will have been to more concerts than you can count on one hand. So, yeah...take that fun police! Haha.

While time moves at at unpredictably fast pace, I believe it's important to try to stay in the present. It's easy to get carried away thinking about the future, or talking about the past...to plan for the coming seasons, or long for those that have come and gone...to dream of all the places you want to go, and remember all those where you have been.

But right now I am here, at home...and there's nowhere else I'd rather be. So, until I write again, I'll be here...in my window seat, on my plane, looking out on and living life.

Trying ardently not to think about the handsome cowboy in the isle seat. Maybe I'll let him share the view. We'll see. :-)

All my love, ~April~

"Life takes us places...Love brings us home." ~Unknown~

"And will you succeed? Yes! You will, indeed! (98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)" ~Dr. Seuss~

1/28/11

Back in the Saddle

Today is the day. Tonight is the night. I am officially back! To blogging, that is. To thinking and reflecting, to photographing and posting, to citing and writing. Ok...I hear ya'! I'll stop there.

It's been a long time, and in that time, much has happened: Summer, school, even a little bit of summer school (no, just kidding!), holidays as well as the occasional not-so-"holly" days (cheesy...sorry), times of smiles and laughter, times of success and error, relishing in comfortable pleasures, as well as experiencing new adventures. There have even been times that I will only be able to fully understand in time.

And while all those times are in the past, they make up a part of who I am in the present, and who I see myself as in the future. And while it may seem as though I've been far, far away, I've always been right here. Living and learning. Loving and...uh, umm, hmmm...yearning?

Maybe. It could happen. Sometimes I yearn. Haha.

Anyhow, I'm back. In the saddle. To the blog. Or, as my cute, charming, and chanting nephew demonstrates in the video below...on the bike.

Look out y'all. Ya' ain't seen nothin' yet!

Love, ~April~